I was just looking at this last night myself, looking at the espousal thing between Mary and Joseph and before they came together and Paul's espousal of them to Christ in a similar comparitive manner.
Mary was espoused to Joseph
Matt 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together,
she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Paul said, here, "I have espoused you to one husband" (almost like the friend of the bridgroom, as was John)
2 Cr 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
In Matt 1:18 it says,
It says, "before they came together, she was found with child (which is Jesus in Mary according to the flesh) of the Holy Ghost"
Whereas here in Paul says (before the same come together) he travailed with them this way
Gal 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you (according to the Spirit)
Because a Paul points out here,
Ephes 5:30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
Ephes 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Ephes 5:32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
He espouses them as a virgin to Christ (2 Cr 11:2)
2 Cr 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
But wouldnt the birth of Christ somewhat mirror the same shown in Mary (but not according to the flesh) but the Spirit?
The birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise (insert Mat 12:49 in the place of Mary ) and so before they came together, she/they were found with child of the Holy Ghost (or Christ being formed in them) of whom Paul travailed.
In the one would have Christ in them according to the flesh (in Mary) whereas in the other would have Christ formed in them (insert Matt 12:49) according to the Spirit.
Then ofcourse we also have two sets of virgins presented to us (they which are called the wise and also the foolish). And while the foolish went out to buy, its then that they that were ready went into the marriage
Matt 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
And as the wise were ready and went into the marriage, it similarly says in Rev 19:7 that "his wife hath made herself ready"
Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
All that to show the one espoused in both pictures are still referred to as the wife before they even come together.
What might your thoughts be on this?
Edit: typo